Time for state to issue permits

Published 12:30 am, Friday, October 7, 2011

As the president of a state-based business whose employees have been negatively impacted by New York's delay in issuing gas drilling permits, I appreciated the support shown by the state Department of Environmental Conservation's union rank and file, as expressed in Wayne Bayer's Sept. 24 letter.

However, I disagree on a couple key points:

I don't believe that the governor's office is unduly pressuring residents into accepting the terms of the supplemental generic environmental impact statement.

This is simple business development, in a state that is starved for an economic boost. We in the oil and gas industry have been waiting for years for the opportunity to spur economic recovery in our state. The governor understands New York's highest priorities: to protect our state's people and character, and to encourage business to grow here so people stay in New York.

Regarding the DEC permit procedure, the agency cannot approve permits where it doesn't have adequate workforce to supervise the work. More gas exploration in New York means more revenue generated for the DEC through permitting fees. That, in turn, means more opportunity to increase staff and rebuild to previous staff levels -- or more.

The ad valorem tax paid to localities, and the related income and sales tax associated with industry activity will translate into billions of dollars in economic impact annually. Pennsylvania is already enjoying these benefits.

This could be a round robin of success and the first steps are to begin issuing permits as soon as possible. We've waited for years; delaying progress now is delaying opportunity for our state. Revenue not realized here just goes elsewhere.